Operating boards

ABSTRACT

An operating board for small animals, and the like, which may be made of relatively thin plastic sheet material, or the like, and embodying a raised platform portion disposed within a fluidretaining area.

United States Patent 1 Etes [ 51 Dec. 18, 1973 1 1 ()PERATING BOARDS [75] lnventor'. Donald E. Etes, Crystal Lake 111.

[73] Assignee: Plas-Med, Inc., Crystal Lake, 111.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1972 [21 Appl. No.: 271,060

[52] [1.8. C1 119/103, 269/327, 269/328 1511 Int. Cl .1 Ablg 13/00 [581 Field 01 Search .4 119/103; 269/327,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.234.623 2/1966 Rector 269/328 X 2,460,857 2/1949 Sweat .4 I 19/103 555,380 2/1896 Kny 119/103 3.2861194 1 1/1966 Landy 269/327 X 2,059 957 11/1936 Mendenhull C1111 i r 119/103 X 1,822 206 9/1931 Ferguson 119/103 X Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examincr]. A. Oliff Atwrney-Johnst0n, Root, OKeefe [57] ABSTRACT An operating board for small animals, and the like, which may bemade of relatively thin plastic sheet material, or the like, and embodying a raised platform portion disposed within a fluid-retaining area.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures OPERATING BOARDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to operating boards, and, more particularly, to operating boards which are particularly well adapted for use in operating on small animals and small birds, and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel operating board.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel operating board which is particularly well adapted for use in surgical operations, autopsies, and the like, on small animals or small birds, and the like.

Another object is to afford a novel operating board for small animals, and the like, which is particularly well adapted for use in dissecting operations. Operating boards for use with small animals, and the like, such as, for example, operating boards of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 3,286,694, issued to J. J. Landy on Nov. 22, 1966, have been heretofore known in the art. However, such operating boards as have been heretofore known in the art commonly have had several inherent disadvantages, such as, for example, being complicated in construction and operation; not affording firm support for the animal being operated upon; not affording good drainage of fluids from the working area; not affording an effective reservoir for the collection of such fluids; or being difficult and expensive to produce, and the like. It is an important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel operating board for small animals, and the like, which affords effective support for an animal being operated upon.

Another object is to afford a novel operating board of the aforementioned type, wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to support the animal in a convenient position for operating thereon.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel operating board wherein restraining members may be quickly and easily secured thereto for holding an animal 'in operating position on the board.

A further object is to afford a novel operating board wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to afford good drainage of blood and other fluids from the operating site thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel operating board for small animals, and the like, wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner effective to collect any such blood or fluids, and to prevent the same from accidentally flowing off from the board.

Another object is to afford a novel operating board of the aforementioned type which is practical and efficient in construction and operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what l now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an operating board embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the operating board shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN An operating board 1 embodying the principles of the present invention is shown in the drawings to illus' trate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The operating board 1 may be made of a single sheet of suitable material, such as, for example, stainless steel or a suitable plastic material, such as, for example, high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, or polyethylene, and the like. Preferably, the operating board 1 is of molded construction and is made of a suitable plastic material such as the aforementioned high impact polystyrene material, which may be readily cleaned, washed and sterilized, the sheet material preferably having a thickness of not substantially less than two hundredths of an inch and not substantially more than six hundredths of an inch and preferably in the nature of four hundredths of an inch.

The operating board 1 embodies a rectangular shaped, substantially flat body portion 2 having an elongated platform 3, extending longitudinally along the center line thereof, and projecting upwardly therefrom in inwardly spaced relation to the outer periphery of the body portion 2.

A double-walled flange 4, having an inner wall 5 and an outer wall 6 extends completely around the body portion 2 and defines the outer peripheral edge thereof. The lower edge of the inner wall 5 is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the body portion 2, FIGS. 3 and 4, and, from the bottom, the flange 4 is concave upwardly.

A side wall 7 extends completely around the flange 4, FIG. 1, and projects upwardly and outwardly therefrom. The lower edge of the side wall 7 is attached to the lower edge of the outer wall 6 of the flange 4, and the walls 6 and 7 define the lateral sides of a trough 8, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, which extends completely around the flange 4. The trough 8 is deformed upwardly at spaced points therearound to afford spaced reinforcing ribs 9, which extend laterally thereaeross. From the bottom, the ribs 9 are convex upwardly, FIGS. 2-4, and afford strengthening members for assisting in affording rigidity to the operating board 1.

A substantially horizontally extending flange 10 is attached to the upper edge of the side wall 7 and projects outwardly therefrom, the flange 10 extending completely around the side wall 7 and defining the outer periphery of the operating board 1. A plurality of slits or slots 11 are formed in the flange and open outwardly through the outer longitudinal edge thereof. The slits 11 are spaced around the flange 10 for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

The platform 3, which it will be remembered projects upwardly from the body portion 2, is concave upwardly, from the bottom, and embodies an elongated lower section 12 and an elongated upper section 13. Preferably, the lower section 12 is so disposed on the body portion 2 that it is substantially equally spaced from the opposite end portions 14 and 15 thereof, FIG. 1. The top wall 16 of the lower section 12 slopes downwardly toward the body portion 2 throughout its length from the end 17 thereof adjacent the end 14 of the body portion 2 to the end 18 thereof adjacent the end 15 of the body portion 2, with the end portion 19 of the lower section 12, which is adjacent to the end 18, sloping downwardly at an increased angle. Preferably, the slope of the end portion 19 to the horizontal is between 10 and 15, and the slope of the remainder of the lower section 12 to the horizontal is between 3 and 6.

The upper section 13 of the platform 3 has an end 20 which is disposed in relatively closely adjacent relation to the end 17 of the lower section 12, and the other end 21 of the upper section 13 preferably terminates short of the inner edge of the end portion 19 of the lower section 12, FIG. 1. The upper surface 23 of the upper section 13 of the platform 3 preferably is slightly concave downwardly in transverse cross section, FIG. 4, and slopes downwardly toward the lower section 12 from the end 20 to the end 21 thereof, with the end portion 22 thereof sloping at an increased angle. Preferably, the slope of the end portion 22 to the horizontal is between ten and fifteen degrees, with the remainder of the top wall 23 of the upper section 13 sloping at a lesser angle, such'as, for example, 3 to 6.

A trough 24 is formed in the platform 3 and extends along the longitudinal center line thereof from inwardly of the end portion 22 of the upper section 13 to the end 18 of the platform 3. The trough 24, throughout its length, slopes downwardly toward the end 18 of the platform 3, the slope thereof preferably being at an angle to the horizontal, which is 2 to 4 greater than the slope of the end portions 19 and 22 of the platform 13.

The trough 8, which is disposed between the side wall 7 and the flange 4, affords a supporting base for operating board 1, and the body portion 2 is disposed thereon in such position that it slopes downwardly from the end 14 to the end 15 thereof, the slope preferably being between 3 and 6 to the horizontal.

In the use of the operating board 1, the animal, or the like, to be operated upon may be placed on the upper face 23 of the portion of the upper section 13 of the platform 3, disposed above the end portion 22 thereof. If desired, the animal may be secured in such position on the platform 3 by suitable means such as suitable restraining members, such as an elastic cord 25," FIG. 5, or the like. The restraining members may be suitably secured to the animal, such as, for example, by tying one end thereto, and the other end of the restraining members may be inserted through suitably positioned ones of the slots 11, with a retaining member, such as a knot 26, FIG. 5, disposed on the restraining member or cord 25 in position to underlie the flange 10 in position to prevent the restraining member 25 from being withdrawn from the slot 11 in which it is disposed.

With the operating board 1 constructed in the aforementioned manner, it will be seen that an animal disposed in normal operating position thereon is supported in a convenient manner for surgical or other coperating procedures. Also, it will be seen that with the aforementioned construction of the operating board 1, most of the blood or other fluids which may flow from an animal being operated upon will flow downwardly along the platform 3, and the trough 24 onto the lower end portion of the body portion 2, adjacent to the end 15 thereof, and any such blood or other fluids that may flow onto the body portion 2 will also pass downwardly onto the lower portion thereof, where it will be accumulated within the confines of the flange 4, thus leaving the site, itself, of the operation relatively free from such fluids.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel operating board which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. An operating board for small animals comprising a. a body portion having an upper face,

b. a platform 1. projecting upwardly from said body portion, and 2. sloping downwardly theretoward, c. a flange 1. extending around said body portion, 2. defining the outer periphery of said body portion, and 3. projecting upwardly above said upper face,

d. an upstanding side wall extending around said flange in outwardly spaced relation thereto, and

e. means, including said flange and side wall, defining a trough extending around said body portion.

2. An operating board as defined in claim 1, and which includes a. ribs 1. extending between said flange and said side wall 2. in parallel spaced relation to each other around said body portion.

3. An operating board as defined in claim 1, and

a. which includes I 1. another flange a. projecting outwardly from the upper edge portion of said side wall, and b. defining the outer periphery of the board, and b. in which 1. said another flange has a plurality of slots formed therein and spaced around said side wall, and 2. said slots open outwardly through the outer edge of said another flange.

4. An operating board for small animals comprising a. an elongated body portion having an upper face,

b. an elongated platform substantially centrally mounted on and projecting upwardly from said upper face, and

c. means extending around and projecting upwardly above said body portion for defining the outer periphery thereof,

6 d. said platform having an elongated trough 9. An operating board as defined in claim 7, and in l. in the upper face thereof, and which 2. sloping downwardly toward one end of said body a. said means comprises portion. 1. a double-walled, upwardly projecting flange 5. An operating board as defined in claim 4, and in 5 a. extending around said body portion, which b. defining the outer periphery of said body pora. said platform comprises tion, and

1. an elongated lower section, and c. projecting upwardly above said upper face of 2. an upper section projecting upwardly from the said body portion,

end portion of said lower section remote from 1 2. an upstanding side wall extending around said said one end portion of said body portion, and flange, and b. said trough extends across said lower section from 3. a trough said upper section toward said one end portion of a. defined by said flange and side wall, and said body portion. b. extending around said body portion, and 6. An operating board as defined in claim 5, and in b. said platform is disposed in inwardly spaced relawhich tion to said flange.

a. the other end portion of said lower section slopes 10. An operating board as defined in claim 9, and in downwardly toward said body portion, and which b. said trough terminates at the end thereof remote a. said trough extends downwardly below said body from said upper section in said downwardly sloping portion to afford a supporting base for said operatother end portion of said lower section. ing board. 7. An operating board for small animals comprising 11. An operating board as defined in claim 9, and in a. an elongated body portion having a substantially which flat upper face, a. said lower section of said platform has an elonb. an elongated platform mounted on and projecting gated trough upwardly from said upper face of said body portion 1. formed in said upper face thereof, in substantially longitudinally extending relation to 2. extending from said upper section to the other said body portion, end portion of said lower section, and c. said platform comprising 3. sloping downwardly from said upper section 1. an elongated lower section having an upper face toward said body portion,

sloping downwardly toward one end portion of b. said means includes another flange projecting subsaid body portion, and stantially horizontally outwardly from the upper 2. an elongated upper section edge portion of said side wall, and

a. projecting upwardly from one end portion of c. said another flange has a plurality of slits formed said lower section, and in and spaced along the outer edge portion thereof b. having an upper face sloping downwardly for receiving restraining members therein.

toward the other end portion of said lower sec- 12. An operating board as defined in claim 11, and tion, and in which d. means projecting upwardly above and extending a. said operating board consists of sheet material.

around said body portion for defining the outer pe- 4Q 13. An operating board as defined in claim 12, and riphery of the latter. in which 8. An operating board as defined in claim 7, and in a. said sheet material has a thickness of not substanwhich tially less than two hundredths of an inch and not a. said means includes an outwardly projecting substantially more than six hundredths of an inch. flange, 1 14. An operating board as defined in claim 13, and b. said flange has a plurality of spaced slits nin the in which V outer edge portion thereof, and a. said sheet material consists of high impact polystyc. said platform is disposed in inwardly spaced relarene.

tion to said means. 

1. An operating board for small animals comprising a. a body portion having an upper face, b. a platform
 1. projecting upwardly from said body portion, and
 2. sloping downwardly theretoward, c. a flange
 1. extending around said body portion,
 2. defining the outer periphery of said body portion, and
 3. projecting upwardly above said upper face, d. an upstanding side wall extending around said flange in outwardly spaced relation thereto, and e. means, including said flange and side wall, defining a trough extending around said body portion.
 2. an upstanding side wall extending around said flange, and
 2. an elongated upper section a. projecting upwardly from one end portion of said lower section, and b. having an upper face sloping downwardly toward the other end portion of said lower section, and d. means projecting upwardly above and extending around said body portion for defining the outer periphery of the latter.
 2. sloping downwardly theretoward, c. a flange
 2. defining the outer periphery of said body portion, and
 2. An operating board as defined in claim 1, and which includes a. ribs
 2. in parallel spaced relation to each other around said body portion.
 2. said slots open outwardly through the outer edge of said another flange.
 2. sloping downwardly toward one end of said body portion.
 2. an upper section projecting upwardly from the end portion of said lower section remote from said one end portion of said body portion, and b. said trough extends across said lower section from said upper section toward said one end portion of said body portion.
 2. extending from said upper section to the other end portion of said lower section, and
 3. sloping downwardly from said upper section toward said body portion, b. said means includes another flange projecting substantially horizontally outwardly from the upper edge portion of said side wall, and c. said another flange has a plurality of slits formed in and spaced along the outer edge portion thereof for receiving restraining members therein.
 3. An operating board as defined in claim 1, and a. which includes
 3. projecting upwardly above said upper face, d. an upstanding side wall extending around said flange in outwardly spaced relation thereto, and e. means, including said flange and side wall, defining a trough extending around said body portion.
 3. a trough a. defined by said flange and side wall, and b. extending around said body portion, and b. said platform is disposed in inwardly spaced relation to said flange.
 4. An operating board for small animals comprising a. an elongated body portion having an upper face, b. an elongated platform substantially centrally mounted on and projecting upwardly from said upper face, and c. means extending around and projecting upwardly above said body portion for defining the outer periphery thereof, d. said platform having an elongated trough
 5. An operating board as defined in claim 4, and in which a. said platform comprises
 6. An operating board as defined in claim 5, and in which a. the other end portion of said lower section slopes downwardly toward said body portion, and b. said trough terminates at the end thereof remote from said upper section in said downwardly sloping other end portion of said lower section.
 7. An operating board for small animals comprising a. an elongated body portion having a substantially flat upper face, b. an elongated platform mounted on and projecting upwardly from said upper face of said body portion in substantially longitudinally extending relation to said body portion, c. said platform comprising
 8. An operating board as defined in claim 7, and in which a. said means includes an outwardly projecting flange, b. said flange has a plurality of spaced slits nin the outer edge portion thereof, and c. said platform is disposed in inwardly spaced relation to said means.
 9. An operating board as defined in claim 7, and in which a. said means compRises
 10. An operating board as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said trough extends downwardly below said body portion to afford a supporting base for said operating board.
 11. An operating board as defined in claim 9, and in which a. said lower section of said platform has an elongated trough
 12. An operating board as defined in claim 11, and in which a. said operating board consists of sheet material.
 13. An operating board as defined in claim 12, and in which a. said sheet material has a thickness of not substantially less than two hundredths of an inch and not substantially more than six hundredths of an inch.
 14. An operating board as defined in claim 13, and in which a. said sheet material consists of high impact polystyrene. 